Pneumatic horse-boot



(No Model.)

R. SITES.

PNEUMATIC HORSE BOOT,

No. 581,042; Patented A r 20, 1897.

TNE Norms Pzrzns co. PHDTQ-LYTHQ WASMWGTON, n. c

NITEJD STATES Fries,

ROBERT SITES, OF HOMER, ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC HORSE-BOOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581 ,042, dated April 20, 1897.

Application filed December 13, 1895. Serial No. 572,060. (No model.)

' which shall comprise a pneumatic or inflatable sack and which when applied to the weakened member, will accommodate itself perfectly to the undulations thereof and thoroughly support and relieve the strained tendons or muscles.

The invention consists in an improved boot or bandage embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved boot or bandage. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the same shown opened. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the closed boot. Fig. 4 illustrates the application of the improved article and the manner of inflating the same.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Much trouble and annoyance have been experienced'in the application of boots or bandages of various constructions to the ankles of horses, as by reason of the inability of such article to accommodate itself perfectly to the animals limb there is a consequent movement or slipping of the boot or bandage which results in drawing upon the weakened tendons and increasing rather than diminishing the trouble. In order to obviate this difficulty, I have devised the following article:

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a cylindrical boot, which, it will be understood, may be made of any desired size or material. In the present instance this boot is composed in the main of a section of leather 2 of a length adapting the boot to pass the leather 2 and the lining 4 is inserted an inflatable sack 5, of rubber or other suitable elastic material, which may or may not be confined at its edges adjacent to the edges of the leather and lining. This sack 5 is provided with an outwardly-projecting hollow valve-stem 6, which preferably projects forward through an opening 7 in the leather 2, said valve-stem being provided with a valve of any approved construction, adapting the sack 5 to be inflated or deflated, as required.

Reinforcements 8 and 9, of leather or other suitable material, are stitched upon the inside of the boot at points where the animal interferes, so as to prevent the too rapid wearing out of the boot and increasing the life thereof.

The boots or bandages constructed as above described are made in rights and lefts, so that the securing buckles and straps are on the outside, as shown in Fig. 4, and so that the valve-stems project forwardly in convenient position to admit of the application of an air= pump. Upon inflation the inside lining is pressed firmly against the member to which the device is applied and accommodates itself perfectly to the undulations thereof, so that the boot or bandage exerts an equal pressure at all points and is effectuallylocked against slipping or any movement whatever upon such member. On account of this absence of movement there can be no chafing nor drawing upon the tendons, and thelatter will be thoroughly supported in proper place and the member to which the boot or bandage is applied materially strengthened and braced. The device, with slight modification, may also be adapted for use in connection with sprained wrists or weak ankles and as a bandage in surgical uses, as by infiatin g the same tightly circulation may be completely arrested in a very short space of time. The inside lining 4 is preferably extended beyond the inside lapping edge of the bootor bandage, so as to afford a smooth and even inner surface thereto and prevent such edge from chafing the member to which it is applied.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- The herein-described bal'idage composed of an outer covering of stiff non-stretchable material of oblong rectangular shape, a lining of soft material stitched at or near its edges to said outer covering and having a projecting edge portion to provide an under lap to the edges of the bandage when applied, an inflatable sack interposed between the covering and lining and adapted when inflated to be confined between the cover and lining to cause the latter to conform to and bear with equal pressure against all parts of the member confined within the bandage, a valvestem communicating with the inflatable sack and projecting through the covering, a parallel reinforcement secured to the covering, a series of binding-straps secured to one edge of the bandage, and buckles attached to short straps stitched upon the outside of the band age some distance inside the opposite outer edge, and a reinforcing-strip 9 attached in rear of the buckle, said bandage designed for application to a defective or injured arm or limb, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT SITES.

\Vitnesscs:

W. S. HAYS, WM. A. ELLIoTT. 

